The 2020 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival kicked off on Jan. 27 after being postponed twice due to unseasonably warm weather and came to a close at 6:30 p.m. Sunday with a closing ceremony and a fireworks display. ADVERTISEMENTOrganizers estimated that about 430,000 tourists visited this year’s ice fishing festival and related events, which included a street lantern festival. Ice on the main ice fishing venue melted after 75 millimeters of rain fell ahead of the initial opening date of Jan. 4. Due to the unusual weather, the organizers were unable to operate the ice fishing site for most of the festival’s three-week run. We’ll prepare for next year’s ice fishing festival through more thorough preparations and brainstorming,” Hwacheon Mayor Choi Moon-soon said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 17, 2020 06:56 UTC